The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-01-12
VOTING IN ENGLAND.
THE METHOD BY WHICH MEMBERS
OF PARLIAMENT ARE SELECTED
The Polling Place, Ballot Box and Book:
Writing and Stamping Ballots-In Case
Objection is BIade-An Paper Accounted

Writing and Stamping Ballots-In Case
Objection is SIade-An Psper Accounted
for. .. -. :,
The polls are open on election day from (
o'clock a. nj. until o'clock p. rn., and tho
presiding officer, with his clerk or clerks, ID
on duty at the polling station all that time
The returning officers Of the borough sit In
the vestry hall at the parish church, and the
sheriff in the shire hall, to receive appeals
from persons who may have changed their
residences since the register was completed, or
who for some other technical reason are not
allowed by the presiding officer to cast their
ballots. The polling station Is large room,
divided across by strong railing, with g
gateway in 1t. The rear part OF the room Is
further divided by railing at right angles
to the first. In the rear Of tho room are
tables at which the electors write their bal
lots. They are divided one from the other by
high board divisions reaching to the ceiling
of the room, SO that man ut one table can
neither see nor be seen by a man ut the next.
On the other side Of the room and behind the
second railing sits the presiding officer with
his clerk, while in front Of him stands eha
ballot box. r.
THE BALLOT BOX AND BOOK.
Shortly before o'clock in the morning OF
election day a policeman takes his stand at
the gate. There the presiding officer and his
clerk bring in the ballot box, still sealed up,
and the package CT papers. Each candidateis IS
entitled to have "personation agent" at each I
polling station, and in the presence Of these
agents tho seal Of the ballot box Is broken and
the box shown to he empty. The box Is
made OF tin, Is about q foot and half high,
and foot square. On the top it has slit
about one and half inches long and q frac-
ton of ON inch wide.
In the sealed package Of papersare, first, q
complete printed copy Of the register of the
borough; second. that portion Of the register
which contains the names Of the electors en-
titled to vote in that polling district; third,
book containing the ballots; fourth, q book
containing fifty ballots printed on colored
paper, to be handed out under the objection
of the Spersonation agent" Of either candi-
date. There Is also stamp with which, to
stamp each ballot as it is given out. Tho
average register has leaves about as large as
those of an unabridged dictionary, and is
about one-third US thick as that necessary
book. Each page Is divided into five
columns; in the first appears number, in
| tho second the voters name. Then In the
| third comes his residence, his occupation In
the fourth, while the property on which hs
! votes is described in tho Afth and last column.
| The ballot book is like large and thick,
check book, the ballots being the checks
They arc about as large as the regular small
blotting papers. Each ballot Is numbered,
corresponding number being printed on the
stub whicl, remains in the book. Tho names
of the candidates aro printed on the ballot, o
large blank space being left opposite each. Il
Above each table where the electors write
their ballots hangs notice printed In large
letters, setting forth what tho voter may and
NAV not do. When these notices are put in
placo and the books laid out on the table, the
presiding officer and his clerks take their
places, and at o'clock the polls are declared
| open. The would-be voter passes by the
policeman On guard at the gate. who allows
only ono person to enter the inclosure at q
| time, Ho goes first to the table, and gives his
name to tho presiding officer, who finds it IN
tho register.
.NEat is your residences" asks the presids
inc officer. The voter givesit
GYour occupationp continues the officer:
L
statement in theregister, he asks the voter TO
describe the property on which ne ciasrns o
right to vote
PREPARING TIE BALLOT.
Not until all the questions are answered In
accordance with the printed form docs the
presiding officer offer tho voter ballot paper.
From sho register he takes tho voters num-
her. and writes it. in ink on the stub Of tile
ballot book, immediately below the nunbcs
of the ballot, which is printed on the stub.
Then lie tears out tho ballot paper, stamps 1t
with his stamp, and hands it to thcroter, who
goes over to one of the tables. There pens
inlsa,ld blotting paper are provided. There,
as he is directed by the printed notice above
the table, he marks across against the name
of the candidate for whom he is voting, blots
! his, ballot fokls it, and, returning: it to the
table by the railing, holds itup and drops II
into the ballet boz. Having done this, he
makes room for the next voter.
i In case any objection is made by the agents
j of either candidate, and tho voter insists upon
casting Lis ballot, the presiding officer gives
him ballot paper fromsthe small ballot book
The procedure is tho same as though the man
were casting an unchallenged vote, but his
hallot is thrown aside when the votes are
counted and tho objections to it considered
later before it is counted. If any voter IS ur-
able to read or write, it is the sworn duty OF
the presiding officer to go with him to the
table, tell him the names of the candidates, and
place the cross opposite tho name that the
voter wishes, and lie mast never reveal the
name OF the candidate so selected.
The polls are closed ct S.o'clock in tho cven-
inr, after having been open twelve hours
The presiding officer is expected to'be presen!
all the time; he is allowed to be absent no
more than thirty minutes during the twelve
hours, and for those thirty minutes he must
appoint deputy Immediately on tho close
of tho polls the ballot box is scaled up,. oil the
pape,s and books made into parcel. oil bal.
lots spoiled by voters placed together and
scaled. and an account made of every piece OF
paper used il tho polling booth during the
day. Tho presiding officer and his CLERKS,
with tue agents, then take the box and pack
ages to the shire town Of the county, Wher
he swears to his returns, end whera the votes
arc countcd.-New York Sun.
Paul Fl. Eaync, the Southern Poet-
OF slight build, and figure below the
medium height; he stands straight as OH
| ,rro,, ond every gesture and motion is a.